At (roughly) 10.45pm Sydney time (9.45pm QLD time) tonight Emirates flight EK 87 touches down in Manchester England and unloads our happy band of Sea Eagles supporters who have travelled all the way from Oz for the WCC campaign.
All in all 33 are doing the full trip with about another 10 that are joining in for the Leeds only section and another 10 joining us for the game and the pre match and post match functions I have organised.
Not huge numbers BUT given the world economic climate a pretty fair number.
Tonight (Leeds time) they will be enjoying welcome drinks and will meet their tour leader, Website and Membership Manager Aaron Markie at Manchester airport when they arive. Aaron (who is currently snow boading in Switzerland) flies into Manchester a few hours before the group from Zurich.
On Friday there's a plan for the group to visit the famous Cricket ground of Headingly.
On Friday night the group will be special guests of the Bradford Football Club and will be watching the Beaver in action against the Huddersfield Giants.
On Saturday during the day most of them head up to Manchester to see the home ground of Man U and visit the Man U super store.
Saturday night is our HUGE Pre World Club Challenge function at the famous George Hotel in Huddersfield (where Rugby League first started). There's heaps going including (we hope) past players Steve Menzies, Michael Mongahan, some of the players who are not going around the next night and some of the coaching staff. CEO Grant Mayer plus half owner Scott Penn will also be making an appearance as is a group from new sponsors Quantum. All attendee's will be in the draw for some fabulous prizes including signed WCC Jersey, signed Bradford Jerseys and some other special draws for some "money can't buy" priveldges at the WCC game the next night.
On Sunday it's the "big game" and our group have just about the best seats in the house (other than the corporate boxes of course). Look for them on the TV as they are sure to be featured when we score our try's and especially when we win the game!!!
And then after the match there's a fantastic post match function with ALL the players in attendance.
The City of Leeds is also making a special welcome to the players and their supporters at a Function at the Leeds Town Hall on Friday afternoon.
So there's a HEAP of stuff happening and they NOT going to be bored in any way (and in between times there is always a English Pint or two isn't there!!!)
I have been working on this trip now since Tuesday morning the 7th of October and this culminated with the bulk of people leaving last night on Emirates flights from Sydney and Brisbane, via Dubai to Manchester where the real fun starts.
It's been a mamoth task, you have no idea the hours and hours of work that has gone into this to ensure that they have a fantastic time, it's what we do of course but nevertheless it's a big job!!
I'd like to thank the following people and organisations for their help.
Grant Mayer and the Manly Sea Eagles staff for allowing me to do this for the club.
Aaron Markie for his assistance with the promotion of the trip and in acting as tour leader after my inability to travel due to the birth of two grandchilden pending (one here one on the way).
Katie Baxter at the Bradford Bulls (who in fact came to see me in Brisbane recently), the Bulls have gone ouit of the way to asisst me and the group have some extra special treats in store for them (that I didn't even tell them about) on Friday night.
The London Harlequins (who assisted me with the small group than went to the game on Sunday night the 22nd of February).
The English Football League (Kevan Williams) who have gone out of their way to accommodate us for the World Club Challenge and be very patient with my numbers going up (and down) and up again and holding absolute premium seats for us when they could have sold then ten times over!!
There are a lot more people who were involved but these are the main ones or main organisations that have helped.
Quite a number of the tourists are the Dad's of the players, so it will be a special treat for them, and a special treat for the other tourists to have them on board!!
Safe travelling everyone, bring back the Cup and I am sure you'll all have many stories to tell everyone at home about what they have missed by staying in Australia.
AND
Start saving your pennies guys because if we win the 2009 Grand Final this will all happen again, and world financial problems or not, you can't miss this a second time!!!
I'd be very happy if you wanted to add your best wishes to the group for a successful campaign and a safe return below!!!
Mark Tramby
Ambassador Holidays
Brisbane
PS: Draft details of our Brisbane and Gold Coast packages are available now and we are working on a trip to Townsville for the Cowboys game as well, final details out as soon as we have firm dates.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Proud supporter of the Eagles for over 45 years!!
Official operator of the Manly Sea Eagles Supporters Tours
Proud Screaming Eagles Member and Football Club member 2226
All in all 33 are doing the full trip with about another 10 that are joining in for the Leeds only section and another 10 joining us for the game and the pre match and post match functions I have organised.
Not huge numbers BUT given the world economic climate a pretty fair number.
Tonight (Leeds time) they will be enjoying welcome drinks and will meet their tour leader, Website and Membership Manager Aaron Markie at Manchester airport when they arive. Aaron (who is currently snow boading in Switzerland) flies into Manchester a few hours before the group from Zurich.
On Friday there's a plan for the group to visit the famous Cricket ground of Headingly.
On Friday night the group will be special guests of the Bradford Football Club and will be watching the Beaver in action against the Huddersfield Giants.
On Saturday during the day most of them head up to Manchester to see the home ground of Man U and visit the Man U super store.
Saturday night is our HUGE Pre World Club Challenge function at the famous George Hotel in Huddersfield (where Rugby League first started). There's heaps going including (we hope) past players Steve Menzies, Michael Mongahan, some of the players who are not going around the next night and some of the coaching staff. CEO Grant Mayer plus half owner Scott Penn will also be making an appearance as is a group from new sponsors Quantum. All attendee's will be in the draw for some fabulous prizes including signed WCC Jersey, signed Bradford Jerseys and some other special draws for some "money can't buy" priveldges at the WCC game the next night.
On Sunday it's the "big game" and our group have just about the best seats in the house (other than the corporate boxes of course). Look for them on the TV as they are sure to be featured when we score our try's and especially when we win the game!!!
And then after the match there's a fantastic post match function with ALL the players in attendance.
The City of Leeds is also making a special welcome to the players and their supporters at a Function at the Leeds Town Hall on Friday afternoon.
So there's a HEAP of stuff happening and they NOT going to be bored in any way (and in between times there is always a English Pint or two isn't there!!!)
I have been working on this trip now since Tuesday morning the 7th of October and this culminated with the bulk of people leaving last night on Emirates flights from Sydney and Brisbane, via Dubai to Manchester where the real fun starts.
It's been a mamoth task, you have no idea the hours and hours of work that has gone into this to ensure that they have a fantastic time, it's what we do of course but nevertheless it's a big job!!
I'd like to thank the following people and organisations for their help.
Grant Mayer and the Manly Sea Eagles staff for allowing me to do this for the club.
Aaron Markie for his assistance with the promotion of the trip and in acting as tour leader after my inability to travel due to the birth of two grandchilden pending (one here one on the way).
Katie Baxter at the Bradford Bulls (who in fact came to see me in Brisbane recently), the Bulls have gone ouit of the way to asisst me and the group have some extra special treats in store for them (that I didn't even tell them about) on Friday night.
The London Harlequins (who assisted me with the small group than went to the game on Sunday night the 22nd of February).
The English Football League (Kevan Williams) who have gone out of their way to accommodate us for the World Club Challenge and be very patient with my numbers going up (and down) and up again and holding absolute premium seats for us when they could have sold then ten times over!!
There are a lot more people who were involved but these are the main ones or main organisations that have helped.
Quite a number of the tourists are the Dad's of the players, so it will be a special treat for them, and a special treat for the other tourists to have them on board!!
Safe travelling everyone, bring back the Cup and I am sure you'll all have many stories to tell everyone at home about what they have missed by staying in Australia.
AND
Start saving your pennies guys because if we win the 2009 Grand Final this will all happen again, and world financial problems or not, you can't miss this a second time!!!
I'd be very happy if you wanted to add your best wishes to the group for a successful campaign and a safe return below!!!
Mark Tramby
Ambassador Holidays
Brisbane
PS: Draft details of our Brisbane and Gold Coast packages are available now and we are working on a trip to Townsville for the Cowboys game as well, final details out as soon as we have firm dates.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Proud supporter of the Eagles for over 45 years!!
Official operator of the Manly Sea Eagles Supporters Tours
Proud Screaming Eagles Member and Football Club member 2226